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FINDING a MISSIGNAL CHURCH IDENTITY Submitted by Monica FINDING A MISSIGNAL CHURCH IDENTITY Submitted By Monica D. Redmond Bachelor of Science, Winthrop University, 1989 Master of Divinity, Hood Theological Seminary, 1996 A Doctoral Dissertation Submitted to the faculties of the schools of the Atlanta Theological Association in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Ministry at Interdenominational Theological Center 2013 A TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT v DEDICATION vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT viii Chapter I. INTRODUCTION 1 II. MINISTRY CONTEXT 14 Ministry Setting 14 Ministry Issue 19 III. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK 24 Review of Empirical Literature 24 Review of Biblical Literature 39 Review of Theological Literature 50 Conclusion 75 IV. THE MINISTRY PROJECT 79 The Need 79 The Concept 83 The Conflicts 85 The Structure 89 The Implementation 90 V. SUMMARY and CONCLUSIONS 103 EVALUATION 107 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 109 ABSTRACT FINDING A MISSIONAL CHURCH IDENTITY by Monica D. Redmond May 2013 138 Pages This Doctor of Ministry project is a Case- guided study of a mega- African American church that developed a Bible study used for church wide identity formation. The study was conducted during completion of a Doctor of Ministry degree. It is a study of a church facing the formidable challenges that they must face as a church serving a community with complex and varied needs. A case -guided research was chosen for this Doctor of Ministry project because it encompassed the process that was essential to investigation of a church searching for its mission identity. This was a study of a church that was intentional about their methodologies, scripturally commanded requirements about church, preaching, discipline, baptism and many other biblical practices. Church and worship can't take just any form. In missional churches, those biblical forms are central, but things like worship style, evangelism methods, attire, service times, locations, and many other man-made customs are not chosen simply based on the preference of the members. Instead, the forms are best determined by their effectiveness in a specific cultural context. v This project presents an organized and systematic form for understanding the process of discovery the researcher experienced during the development and execution of a church wide identity examination. Case study research guided the basic research design. VI DEDICATION This Doctor of Ministry project is dedicated to more than 5,000 disciples of St. Paul's Missionary Baptist Church; in particular, those of you who participated in seven Bible Study classes during the summer of 2011. Thank you so much for your prayers and support as this project was implemented. vu ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank Dr. Gregory K. Moss, Sr. my Pastor, teacher and confidante. Pastor Moss, you have been a constant encourager and friend throughout this process. Thank you for not allowing me to give up. We both knew the importance of this study for the ministry at St. Paul's Missionary Baptist Church and the global impact it could make on Charlotte, North Carolina, the Belmont Community and beyond. Thank you for pushing me towards completion. Thank you also for the last six years! It has been fun just as you said it would be. The work we do each day has been enlightening and we will continue to press forward until we see the 5,000 disciples of St. Paul's serving a world that God has commanded us to serve. I look forward to the continued work. To my parents, Rev. Grant E. Redmond and Rev. Clorine Redmond, I want to say thank you to the both of you on behalf of Angie, Paulette, Jackie and Grant, Jr. for pushing us to become who God wants us to be. Mom and Dad as I began working on this project I thought about the college students from Benedict College that Dad picked up for Sunday morning worship and later inviting them to Sunday dinner and fellowship. I thought about the kids in the neighborhood who played with us and were given something to drink along with us after a day of kick ball or volley ball. You treated all of us the same! Our home was considered the good time house because of your welcoming spirit and generous heart. What a missional impact you were making back then and Vlll didn't even realize it. I never would have imagined many years ago growing up in Fountain Inn, SC and, later in Columbia, SC that I would be here writing but I think you did. I must acknowledge your hand in pushing me to be who I'm becoming! Thanks Mom and Dad you are the best! I also acknowledge Dr. Christine Chapman for your assistance with this project. You also knew that the church globally needed this information. Thank you so much. To two teachers that saw in me years ago what I did not see; that I would one day stand on a major platform! To Mrs. Pauline Davis and Mrs. Bernice Manigo, you are certainly a part of the village that helped shape and mold me. I love you as much today as I did in 1984 when I stood on the small platform at Columbia High School's graduation saying "success is not reached in a single bound, we mount to its summit round by round." Thank you, you have never been forgotten. IX TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT m DEDICATION iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENT v Chapter I. Introduction Church Identity: Finding God's Mission for the Church Research Design and Methodologies Conclusion Chapter II. Ministry Context Introduction Ministry setting Ministry issue Conclusion Chapter III. Conceptual Framework Introduction Review of Empirical Literature Review of Biblical literature Review of Theological Literature Conclusion Chapter IV. Ministry Project Case Study: Finding a Missional Church Identity Part I: The Need Part II: The Concept Part III: The Conflicts Part IV: The Structure Part V: The Implementation Chapter V. Summary and Conclusions Significance of findings Summary of findings Conclusion, Implications, Recommendations Discussion Future Studies Evaluation Bibliography Appendix A B CHAPTERI INTRODUCTION In the past decade, religious institutions in America have experienced a need to clarify their religious identity. Although most churches are affiliated with mainline denominations, individual churches, such as non-denominational churches, are driven to clarify their particular uniqueness. Our uniqueness arises from our understanding of scripture different experiences, different patterns of socialization, the choices about mission and even the programs individual churches choose to serve their parishioners and their communities. This Doctor of Ministry project presents a case-guided study of an African- American mega church that explored and developed its missional identity. The project focused on the processes and the outcomes the church experienced during this self- exploration of understanding what they wanted to be. This awareness was necessary because St. Paul's Missionary Baptist Church faced formidable challenges as a church serving a community with a plethora of needs. As a church St. Paul's was not convinced that it was doing a great job being a "Ray of Hope" to its community and surrounding area. It became evident to the church that they were too inwardly focused. In other words, the church focused too much on developing themselves and not on others. The church wanted and needed to become an externally focused church. It was not about adding another ministry to the fifty or so St. Paul's already had; it was about a church wide effort to focus on others and not on its self. Where did St. Paul's begin? The researcher identified a beginning direction by asking the question - who is thy neighbor? This question is paramount to understanding how St. Paul's was called to respond in relationship with those around it. St. Paul's was very aware of its location and the neighborhood in which it was located; however, St. Paul's did not know its neighbors. They saw their neighbors, but they did not know them. This challenged the researcher because the church did not know nor had they reached out to the mothers of four children who died from gun violence at the local high school. They did not know the store owner who was about to lose his business to gentrification. The church did not know the thousands of single mothers in the area who could not afford childcare for their children. As a church St. Paul's was challenged because they realized their negligence. Their negligence was not adhering to the Bible that they claim to live by. St. Paul's has a vision and mission statement but what they discovered is that for far too long they have been mindlessly going through each day seeing needs all around them without giving them adequate consideration. There are formidable challenges that they must face as a church serving a community with complex and varied needs. The researcher was greatly concerned for herself because when she looked back over her ministry career, she wanted to look back over it as John Vincent did. She wanted to be able to see that she had "helped someone along the way." John Vincent was the founder of the Urban Theology Unit in Sheffield, England who described his most significant contribution in his ministerial career as the idea of walking alongside. When Vincent surveyed his ministerial career he didn't consider possible economic developments he had made or membership growth, or ethnic understanding as his most significant contributions. Rather, what was most important to him was encapsulated in one word, alongside. Mr. Vincent says, "We've made a difference by introducing the word 'alongside' into our life together. We've advanced from living apart to living alongside our neighbor." The researcher was concerned because it was evident that St.
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